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Syndicate
Big biz doesn't really care about the colour of its agents. The "race card" is not being played by the right-wing for its own sake (even as endemic racism remains a HUGE problem in the USA). The "race card" (monkey images, "birther" issues, etc) is played to undermine Obama's policy agenda. There are enough idiotic Americans who will swallow almost anything they're fed, even if it's against their own material interests to work in the interests of Big Energy, Big Health Care & Big Guns.
p.s. - There is no such thing as reverse racism in the USA or Canada.
This is a very sensitive issue in America currently. I have no doubt a very small group of Americans still use race as a reason for something. The fact is America is still dealing and struggling with the social aftermath of its human subjection trade.
Obama has made some questionable comments about common issues facing many Americans. I.e Gates vs. Cambridge police. Whether or not the Cambridge police acted stupidly was not his call to make. It's not the first time an American president or official has made dubious comments. Bush using the word "Paki" during a speech. Is Bush a racist? Or Senator Wilson, the first to break from a very long American tradition of listening during a presidential speech. When Bush opened lied about war Wilson sat quietly. Is Wilson a racist?
I hope we move on from the race issue quickly. The more we duel in it the longer it will take us to move on and tackle more serious social issues. Racism being a product of fear and ignorance, easily curable.
Most Americans know racial discrimination is wrong, discrimination of any kind is wrong. Hopefully with time America will get over it.
We need to get over this primitive issue.
I'm thankful for being born in Canada where race is a non issue in everyday life and politics. I hope future generations in America will enjoy what I had growing up. Society free of prejudice.
Thanks,
Canadian living in Boston.
I was also born and raised in Canada (where much of my family still lives and where I visit often) and have lived in teh states for over a decade (almost all of it in the South) and haven't noticed a ton of differences with regards to race in either country.
Fair comment Star Spangled. I live down the street from Sgt James Crowley. Remember him? The man with a history of being a racist police officer arresting one of the greatest African-American scholars of our time. What exactly was Professor Gates arrested for? I've never witnessed this behavior from tax paid workers in Canada.
I've noticed a big difference with how racism is dealt with both sides of the border. Maybe because I'm of a minority group, maybe it's not. Let's hope not though eh?
Dutch, I am thinking you are a troll because I am having a hard time understanding how you think Canada is "free from prejudice"?
Perhaps you should read through the anti-racism forum here a little bit. Canada is far, far, far from being free from racism, bigotry and prejudice.
Well....not much to say other than I agree with Stargazer and Eliza.
Calling me a Troll is a tad bit prejudicial?
It's ok, I've heard it all. Canada is not perfect, show me a country that is? Perhaps you would prefer to live in Saudi Arabia?
Utopia is nice, hopefully we'll get there. I have to live in what we got for now.
.
Huh?
.
*mmpfle..snort*
i would say that as far as the whole anti-racism oppression thing goes you are nearer the bottom of the learning curve.
Sorry for the thread drift. Some comments I can't let go by unchallenged.
and
1. Who is "we"? White folks? Dutch I wouldn't know where to begin on the use of "we" the way you've used it.
2. "More serious social issues" eh? In brief, these aren't the words of an ally. When one experiences racism, it's a serious social (and personal, FFS) issue.
3. "Primitive"? Really?
I would like to very gently and respectfully suggest that if one doesn't experience racism then perhaps, maybe, sorta kinda, one's experience of a racist culture (Canada and the US) will be based through that lived experience.
Such lived experiences includes the classroom, school curricula, treatment by the state via the police, social service agencies, health care system, immigration system, legal system.
So because I haven't experienced poverty, nor have most of my friends, is it okay for me to minimize the realities of poverty?
No, it sure as hell isn't.
Oldgoat,
I understand I'm new here but that's pushing it. I can assure you I've been a victim of racism far more then you could possibly imagine. If you knew what I do you'd be utterly embarrassed and ashamed. Rightfully so.
My thick skin is the product of racism and ignorance, and the quick judgments as you show are all too familiar to me.
Ha, great post Maysie!!
SSC, go tell your stories to the poor blacks living in the south. The US is a rabid breeding ground for racism. Such disgusting displays abound. KKK anyone? Please SSC. I think you are living in fairy tale land. I won't even touch on the Latin community there.
As for us being "bigoted" towards hate mongers--- too Freaking bad. I refuse to tolerate intolerance.
Here here stargazer!
Dutch, racism exists in Canada, and is in fact imbedded in every aspect of Canadian culture.
If you are saying you've not experienced racism in Canada, then I respect that, however I would also add that if you understand how racism works then you understand that some times certain "token" people of colour (POC) or First Nations (FN) people are allowed into inner circles while most others are left to deal with racist bullshit unprotected.
Have you laughed at racist jokes, just to not offend your white colleagues? I used to. Have you gone along with racist stereotypes, even about your own background, just to prove you aren't one of those "trouble-making POC? I used to do that as well. While I understand such behaviour as survival mechanisms, I reject such behaviour as ever challenging racist individuals or systems. It's called internalized racism. Many POC and FN people have internalized hatred against us.
Both on babble and in my paid professional work, as well as my life, I try very hard to challenge false ideas and beliefs when I can.
Stargazer, I am not denying horrible racism in the southern US but isn't the treatment of First Nations here comparable? Especially considering the treatment by our own federal government? I don't think there is a case to be made by saying Canada is less racist than the US. I have also heard too many comments about FN in supposedly respectable circles - whether at work or amoung friends and family. It is systematic and insiduous.
Maysie, not sure what you were referring to in highlighting that quote from me. The point I was making, if it wasn't entirely clear, was I haven't noticed a major difference in terms of racism between Canada and the United States, despite certain smug Canadians (or ex-pat Canadians) seeming to suggest that Canada is a perfect utopia devoid of racial tension whereas America is just full to the brim with racists.
The KKK? Seriously? It's been decades since they've been remotely relevant. I'm sure what remains of the KKK today could likely hold their annual convention inside a phone booth. It's like pointing to the heritage Front and using them to signify how racist canada is. They're a fringe group of losers looked down upon by 99% of society and have absolutely no power or influence.
Does racism exist down here? Of course. Just like in Canada. Is it a "rabid breeding ground for racism"? Certainly no moreso than Canada is. Which is to say, not much at all.
SSC my point was:
Don't make me quote myself again, please!
True, I'm jsut saying that as an observer, I haven't seen big differences between the two countries. I AM a Jew and the only anti-Semitism I've ever experienced took place in Toronto, not in the States. (not that I would use that anecdotal experience to generalize about the country or people on either side of the border) I AM married to a woman of colour (who is also a Jew and an immigrant from Iran) so have that experience and she'd tell you that constant racism is really not something she experiences down here either, nor does she feel any sort of sense of relief crossing the border into Canada like she's now getting out of racist land into wonderful utopian Canada.
Do you remember David Duke's almost successful run for office, SCC?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Duke
Maysie. My white colleagues? I'm black, you've put your foot in it on this one. I found your comment disturbingly racist by assuming I have white colleagues. Or the color of my colleagues has anything to do with anything!
My colleagues are disadvantaged black kids on the verge of dropping out of school. I'm a black Canadian helping out black youth infected by the hate of racism. Protecting kids from ideas like yours.Hate mongers not willing to move forward.
No system is perfect or absolutely free of prejudice. Through cooperation and education "we" will get there.
No thanks to attitudes such as your own.
There's no denying Obama's race plays a role in protests
I know he's run pretty constantly for just about every office open in Louisiana and seems to do worse and worse each time. I know the last time he ran for the Congress, he got his ass handed to him by the child of Indian immigrants, Bobby Jindal.
Dutch, Canadians spell color, this way; colour.
What ideas of maysie's, do you believe people need to be protected from? And what way do you see black kids as being infected?
Oh and thanks for that pogge, facts always help in indicating the truth.
Remind,
Maysie's "white colleagues" comment is the idea I was referring to. Not all white people are racist, just whites hung up on race.
Many African-American youth have an ingrained idea the system is against them with no hope. Yes the system here in the U.S is horribly flawed, but it's changing. It will change with effort and hard work. Not fear and ignorance.
As this site is clearly shows, there are a few bad apples in the basket. As a whole it's not all bad.
Frankly, I find it hard to believe that a black Canadian living in Boston could be so cavalier about racism in Amerikkka.
Was the Associated Press wrong last September when it published these words:
Well Mr. Spector, you'd better believe it. I am a black Canadian living in America speaking this way. It's attitudes like yours "AmeriKKKa" that cause much harm to black youth here. Thinking there's no hope in the only country they know. Grow up.
If your attitude can't change how will others?
Dutch, "the system" is ingrained against them, just as it is in here in Canada against FN's, what you are actually speaking of, is changing "the system", not keeping it as it is.
Moreover, indicating what "the system" is, is not breeding fear and ignorance, it is exposing it and indicating that it must be changed to a different system of doing and being.
Hope lies in people's recognition that things must change and understanding that status quo is unacceptable. Only when recognition occurs, can people move to build a different system.
Dutch,
My comment about white colleagues was assuming you had white colleagues. Most of us do. It's a safe and not-racist assumption. But I also need to say if you work "with" black youth, they are certainly not your colleagues. Thinking of them as colleagues shows a disturbing lack of understanding of the institutional power you have over them. I worked with youth years ago. They were by no means my colleagues.
I also want to be clear that while I've not called you anything, except inferring that you may have internalized racism issues, as all/most POC and FN people have, you have called me a hate-monger.
Interesting.
And this, I wholeheartedly agree with: